Calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus and method

Abstract

A calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a motor, frame, with the motor and the replaceable cartridge attached to the frame. The replaceable cartridge includes a calcareous deposit roller for growing calcareous deposits thereon, which typically cause abrasive wear. The wipe-test apparatus also includes a trough which is filled with seawater. The frame positioned in the trough, and shaped so that when positioned in the trough, the motor is perched above in a dry location and the replaceable cartridge is below, at least partially submerged so that the calcareous deposit roller simulates shipboard wet operating conditions. The apparatus and method evaluates the removal of the calcareous deposits under shipboard working conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus for testing the removal of calcareous deposits, the apparatus comprising:
 a motor having a motor drive shaft for transmitting rotational energy; 
 a replaceable cartridge comprising:
 a cartridge shaft; 
 a calcareous deposit roller for growing calcareous deposits thereon; and 
 a spring loaded bearing coupon in biased contact with the calcareous deposit roller for removing the calcareous deposits thereon; 
 
 
       the calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus further comprising:
 a frame; and 
 a transmission assembly extending through the frame connected to each of the motor drive shaft and the cartridge shaft for transmitting rotational energy from the motor shaft to the cartridge shaft thereby rotating the calcareous deposit roller against the spring loaded bearing coupon for removing the calcareous deposits. 
 
     
     
       2. The calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:
 a substantially L-shaped chassis having a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion; 
 a motor mounting platform positioned at the top of the vertically extending portion of the substantially L-shaped chassis; and 
 a cartridge side plate for removably attaching the replaceable cartridge, wherein the replaceable cartridge is mounted to the cartridge side plate, and the motor is mounted to the motor mounting platform at an end of the vertically extending portion so that the motor is positioned vertically above the replaceable cartridge below and remains dry when the replaceable cartridge is at least partially submerged in seawater. 
 
     
     
       3. The calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission assembly comprises:
 a first sprocket mounted on the motor drive shaft; 
 a transmission shaft; 
 a second sprocket mounted on the transmission shaft, wherein the transmission shaft is connected to the carriage shaft forming a continuous shaft body extending within and substantially parallel to the horizontally extending portion of the substantially L-shaped chassis; and 
 a looped chain attached to each of the first sprocket and the second sprocket, transmitting rotational energy from the motor drive shaft above to the cartridge shaft below. 
 
     
     
       4. The calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a load screw for adjusting the biasing force of the spring loaded bearing coupon. 
     
     
       5. The calcareous deposit wipe-test apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a trough for containing seawater for creating calcareous deposits and to create shipboard operating conditions, wherein the substantially L-shaped chassis is positioned within the trough with the horizontally extending portion is entirely within the trough, and the vertically extending portion extends out and above the trough so that when the trough is filled with seawater the cartridge is at least partially submerged in the seawater and the motor is positioned above the seawater. 
     
     
       6. A calcareous deposit wipe-test evaluation method comprising:
 providing a test apparatus comprising:
 a motor having a motor drive shaft for transmitting rotational energy; 
 a plurality of replaceable cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges comprising:
 a cartridge shaft; 
 a calcareous deposit roller for growing calcareous deposits thereon; and 
 a spring loaded bearing coupon in biased contact with the calcareous deposit roller for removing the calcareous deposits thereon; 
 
 
 a frame wherein one of the plurality of replaceable cartridges is attached to the frame; and 
 a transmission assembly extending through the frame connected to each of the motor drive shaft and the cartridge shaft of the attached replaceable cartridge for transmitting rotational energy from the motor shaft to the cartridge shaft; 
 a trough with seawater therein, wherein the frame is positioned within the trough, 
 growing calcareous deposits on the calcareous deposit rollers of the plurality of replaceable cartridges by applying an electrical current to the respective calcareous deposit roller; 
 after deposits are formed on the calcareous deposit rollers, activating the motor for a predetermined time, which via the transmission assembly, transmits rotational energy to the calcareous deposit roller of the attached replaceable cartridge, the attached calcareous deposit roller rubbing against the spring loaded bearing coupon, thereby removing the calcareous deposits thereon; and 
 evaluating the system and making adjustments during and after the period in which the motor is activated. 
 
     
     
       7. The calcareous deposit wipe-test method of  claim 6  further comprising;
 providing the frame with a substantially L-shaped chassis having a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion, a motor mounting platform positioned at the top of the vertically extending portion of the substantially L-shaped chassis, and a cartridge side plate for removably attaching the replaceable cartridges, wherein the attached replaceable cartridge is mounted to the cartridge side plate, and the motor is mounted at an end of the vertically extending portion so that the motor is positioned vertically above the attached replaceable cartridge below and remains dry when the attached replaceable cartridge is at least partially submerged in seawater to stimulate the growth of calcareous deposits. 
 
     
     
       8. The calcareous deposit wipe-test method of  claim 7  further comprising;
 providing the transmission with a first sprocket mounted on the motor shaft, a transmission shaft, and a second sprocket mounted on the transmission shaft, wherein the transmission shaft is connected to the carriage shaft forming a continuous shaft body extending within and substantially parallel to the horizontally extending portion of the substantially L-shaped chassis, and a looped chain attached to each of the first sprocket and the second sprocket, transmitting rotational energy from the motor drive shaft above to the cartridge shaft below, and wherein the attached replaceable cartridge is further provided with a load screw for adjusting the biasing force of the spring loaded bearing coupon. 
 
     
     
       9. The calcareous deposit wipe-test method of  claim 8 , wherein after the evaluating of the system and making adjustments a determination is made as to whether to end the evaluations or to conduct more evaluations. 
     
     
       10. The calcareous deposit wipe-test method of  claim 9 , wherein in the conducting of more evaluations, the attached replaceable cartridge is removed from the test apparatus, and replaced with another of the plurality of replaceable cartridges.